COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri’s governing board on Thursday appointed a recently-retired senior administrator from its flagship campus to be the university system’s interim president.

Michael Middleton, 68, takes over for Tim Wolfe, who resigned abruptly on Monday amid student-led protests over his administration’s handling of racial complaints.

Middleton, who is black, retired as deputy chancellor of the Columbia campus in August and took on the role of deputy chancellor emeritus.